In this episode, I get candid about my journey from being a "self-help slut" – constantly consuming personal development content, collecting certifications, and chasing the next breakthrough – to discovering that real transformation came from something much simpler.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

* I reveal how I spent over $50,000 on certifications and countless hours consuming self-help content, yet still found myself repeating the same patterns with different names, zip codes, and job titles

* The wake-up call that made me realize all my sophisticated knowledge wasn't creating the changes I wanted

* How we use "sophisticated buffering" to distract ourselves from discomfort – not just through obvious escapes but through seemingly productive, socially acceptable activities

* Why the self-help industry thrives on convincing us the solution is in their system, when we already know what we need to do but aren't ready to do it

* The power of the "umm" moment in midlife – the pause where we don't know the answers yet and don't need to force them

* How sitting with uncomfortable feelings instead of trying to fix or escape them literally rewired my nervous system

* The "ancient technology" practices that actually created lasting change – available for free and requiring no special training

MEMORABLE QUOTES:

"You already know what you need to do. You're just not ready to do it yet."

"The $50 billion self-help industry thrives on convincing you the solution is in their system, their method, their framework. But what if the most radical act of self-help was simply being honest about what you already know?"

"The answers you're seeking aren't in another person's system. They're in the quiet space you've been avoiding."

"I spent the last 20-ish years making decisions from fear, scarcity and desperation... The unfortunate part of being in that negative state is that you can rarely make a positive decision from there."

"Midlife is when all our clever strategies start to break down. It's when we realize we can't outrun ourselves anymore."

If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review, and share with someone who might benefit from it. Your support helps more women discover how to unfuck their midlife.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

* COMPANION WORKSHEET: I know the irony in this but hey, for paying subscribers who I like to create extra value for, here is a guided worksheet to see if you can become less slutty with self-help and gain a little awareness on finding those answers within your UMMM practices —you’ll find it in the HERE.

Get full access to Unfucking Midlife at ashleykelsch.substack.com/subscribe